CEO Raney Announces Launch of New Open Access Program to Eliminate Waiting Lists

SKOKIE, Ill.- Approximately 50 community leaders and elected officials turned out Oct. 28 to celebrate the fifth anniversary of Turning Point Behavioral Health Care Center's The Living Room, a free walk-in clinic for individuals experiencing a psychiatric emergency. The innovative program has been effective at both resolving crisis, and drastically reducing more costly visits to hospital emergency room departments.

The first of its kind in Illinois, Turning Point's The Living Room has received over 1,200 visits, and saved an estimated $2,795,443 in hospital emergency room bills which would typically be paid by the State since it opened in fall of 2011. The safe and calming environment is equipped with comfortable couches, soothing artwork, an aquarium, and a refrigerator stocked with refreshments, and is staffed by professional clinicians and recovery support specialists.

Welcoming guests to the celebration was Turning Point CEO Ann Fisher Raney, AM, LCSW who said, "Turning Point's mission has been to provide solid support when its needed most, and The Living Room's professional clinicians and trained recovery support specialists have truly exemplified our mission in action. We are proud of the hope and support we've been able to provide each year to individuals suffering from serious mental illness."

Village of Skokie Mayor George Van Dusen attended the celebration, saying "Every day our human services department is in touch with Turning Point, to refer someone in crisis to their expert care. This is the heavy lifting that takes place in society. Congratulations on the fifth anniversary of The Living Room. Your leadership and essential services improve the quality of life and health of our community that is a model for the rest of the nation."

Illinois Department of Human Services Regional Director Dan Wasmer praised Turning Point's efforts saying "The Living Room is proof of Turning Point's ability to take a new idea and transform it into a strong program by adding the values of community, connection, and partnership. When one sees results like this, it makes you wonder what else might be possible, and that is the stuff that makes life interesting and fun."

NorthShore Skokie Hospital President Kristen Murtos said, "Turning Point exemplifies some of the most important qualities of a community partner. First, you see partnerships as a critical part of finding solutions, and second you are innovators. All of us are challenged to find a way to meet growing needs with diminishing resources and it is only through partnership and working together that we can provide needed services in our community. The Living Room has been able to drive change and challenges us to think about how we can provide services differently."

Raney concluded the program with the announcement of the agency's newest innovation. "I'm very happy to announce that Open Access is now fully operational and ready to serve the community. Four days a week, for several hours each day, anyone who is ready to begin therapy can come to Turning Point and get started. No more waiting lists because there will be no more waiting."

Turning Point started offering Open Access July 5, and since then has welcomed 110 new clients. Like The Living Room, Open Access offers same day access into Turning Point's programs and services. "We are always trying to grow, work with our community partners and address community needs," concluded Raney. "We thought the next best thing we could do was to eliminate the wait between the moment someone is hoping to receive mental health care and the moment they receive it."

Among the attendees were Illinois State Senator Daniel Biss, Leslie Combs from U.S. Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky's office, Illinois State Representatives Laura Fine and Robyn Gabel, and Cook County Commissioner Larry Suffredin.

The Living Room at Turning Point has been lauded and emulated by peers in the mental health care industry. In 2015 Turning Point accepted a management Award of Excellence from the National Council for Behavioral Health, and in 2016 Lauren Prasek, RN, a former Living Room staff member, and current member of Turning Point's Advisory Council joined UCLA Hospital's ER Department in 2016 as its first psychiatric provider.

The Living Room is located at 8324 Skokie Blvd, Skokie, and serves guests from throughout the Chicago metropolitan area, including Skokie, Evanston, Chicago, Des Plaines, Morton Grove, Niles, Park Ridge, Lincolnwood and Glenview.

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TURNING POINT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE CENTER, established in 1969, is an outpatient mental health center that provides expert, affordable mental health care to all. For more information about Turning Point visit www.tpoint.org.

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